Iraqi Officials Say Dozens Of Militants Killed

Iraqi officials say soldiers have killed several dozen militants in fighting near the capital.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that members of the security forces foiled an assault by militants on a military base in Yussifiyah, killing more than 40 "terrorist attackers."

An army officer was also killed in the clashes.

Yussifiyah is about 20 kilometers south of Baghdad.

Police officials said the attack started late on April 2 and lasted a few hours.

The firefight was the latest in a surge in bloodshed over the past year, amid fears insurgents could seek to destabilize elections set for April 30 by upping the pace of attacks, with violence already at its worst since 2008.